After the twins had been gone about a half bell, the rest left through the narrow entrance in single file, trotting down and out of the valley where they turned north. The twins re-joined them after about fifty kellrans and reported that there were many bright lights shining on top of the hill, like a beacon in times of war, but no movement further afield. They had located no new tracks.
: I like the dark : Josei commented in the middle of the night during one of their infrequent breaks.
: That’s because you’re a spy at heart. You like creeping around trying not to be seen or heard : Thalia commented in her turn : We’ve obviously missed our calling. Do you need another drink? We’re riding point this time round :
: I thank you, no, but a little nibble at that trail bread would go down a treat :
: I spoil you : she punched him playfully in the ribs as she handed it over.
: Larya says we go now : Josei told her, pointedly ignoring her comment.
Thalia and Josei were still leading the way when Josei stopped.
: We are not alone : he warned..
: The strangers? Tell Larya :
Thalia was holding her breath. She tried to stay calm and to let it out slowly.
: Larya says to wait. She and Artem are coming through :
“What did you hear?” whispered Artem when he arrived at the front of the line.
“Josei says there are strangers out there,” she whispered back. “Ten kellrans perhaps.”
“How many?”
“Four or five and they are trying to move quietly. They are travelling in the same direction we are. They’re not being very successful about the ‘quiet’ part. Even I can hear them easily.”
“Quietly? That doesn’t sound like the humans back on the hill.”
“He senses fear too and an emotion he interprets as …”
: A need to protect : Josei supplied the necessary.
“That definitely doesn’t sound like the same strangers who were holding Max prisoner,” mused Artem, still in his whispery voice, he had received the information direct from Larya. “I wonder …”
“We keep following them?”
“We must. They are travelling the same way and we’re bound to cross paths eventually.” He looked up. “The moon is high tonight. We’re travelling into its shine. You’ll be able to see them as clear as day especially if they go over a rise and the moonlight makes their bodies silhouette against the light. You and Josei go. Take Hael and Mariya with you.”
Thalia nodded and asked Josei to bespeak Hael’s Lind.
“You?”
“We’ll follow. Call if you need back up.”
* * * * *
: What are they? :
: Mariya says they are five humans. Their scent is very distinctive, not unalike Hael’s smell :
: Does she think they are the same as the ones who destroyed the headquarters dom and on the hilltop? :
Josei’s answer was a surprising one.
: Definitely not :
: Inform Larya. Ask her to find out what Artem wants us to do next :
: Wilco :
There was a short hiatus in telepathic conversation between them and Thalia restlessly waited for instructions. She caught Hael’s eye and raised her eyebrows. He shrugged.
: Artem wants to catch them. We have to continue to follow them while the other vadeln-pairs move forward on either side. Larya says when they are surrounded we will spring the trap : ‘said’ Josei at last.
Thalia, Hael and their Lind continued to follow the five strangers. Thalia was conscious of a faint rustling of moving foliage to either side of her and Josei and shadows flitting past as they other vadeln-pairs took up their positions.
: Larya has ordered us all to hear each other :
Thalia took that in. Now they would be able to receive and give instant updates.
: Make ready : ordered Artem.
Thalia released her sword guard. Through the years it had become second nature at the prospect of trouble. Almost belatedly she remembered her firearm and pulling it from its holster, readied it.
: Ail and Iya are going to make a noise to the front. That should unsettle them and stop them moving. On the word, Thalia, you will tell them that they are encircled and to surrender. Be careful, they will have weapons of their own. Keep out of sight :
They waited tensely for Ail’s noise. When it came it surprised Thalia, not because of its intensity or level but because it was unexpected. Artem wanted to frighten the five into stopping, not make them so scared they would run away. Ail had cleverly asked Iya to sneeze as loud as she could. She had complied.
The five strangers stopped moving immediately.
Thalia lowered herself off Josei’s back and stepped forward, being very careful to stay out of sight.
* * * * *
Chapter 8
Dragon Wulf
“Stand still! Put your hands above your heads!”
The leading figure jumped as Thalia’s disembodied voice came out of the foliage. He looked wildly around but the owner of the voice was nowhere to be seen.
Slowly, he raised his hands.
“All of you!”
The other strange people began to lift their arms, but Thalia could see that three of them were clearly struggling to raise their right arms although their left ones went up quickly enough. She could see their eyes moving this way and that, trying to identify where her voice was coming from.
“Thalia, you go, I’ll cover you,” said Hael, pointing his firearm at the largest stranger.
Thalia stepped out, not without some trepidation.
: They carry something heavy in these quilted bags they have over their shoulders : observed Josei from the foliage : That is why their arms move slowly :
: They’re also carrying weapons though not like any I’ve seen before. Tell Rodick and Zeb to come out and to disarm them : ordered Thalia. She ‘heard’ Josei pass her command to Anya and Vya, ‘heard’ their acknowledgements and a moment or so later the two men emerged and began divesting the strange people of their long, metal objects.
“What do we do about the bags the three at the back are carrying?” called out Zeb, looking at them with some alarm. “The bags are moving. They must have something alive inside them.”
“They’re wriggling,” agreed Rodick in a voice that quavered.
“Leave them for now,” ordered Thalia and the two vadelns, with it must be noted some relief, avoided touching the bags and removed everything else, roughly searching their captives for any small weapons in belt or pocket.
“Who are you?” asked Thalia when their prisoners had been divested of anything remotely looking like a weapon.
“You speak strangely woman,” said the thick, heavyset man.
“It’s you who speak strangely,” Thalia contradicted. “What is it you’ve got in these bags?”
“That’s none of your business,” answered the tall man at the front.
“I beg to disagree,” stated Thalia in a pleasant voice that had within it more than a hint of suppressed steeliness. “You’ll have noted that it is you who are our prisoners. That puts you at a disadvantage don’t you think? It is us who are asking the questions and it behoves you to answer them.”
The tallest man shrugged, whether in agreement or resignation Thalia was not sure and nodded to his companions. The two women and the man carrying the bags knelt down and began unfastening the tops.
Thalia ‘felt ‘Josei tense and heard Artem and the others unclipping the stop switches on their firearms. She drew herself more erect. It felt good to know that Hael and Artem were watching her back.
“Take whatever is in that one out,” commanded Thalia, pointing to the smallest woman.
The woman looked imploringly at Thalia.
“Do I have to? I don’t want to scare them any more than they have been scared already.”
“The night air is not good for them,” added the tall man.
: Go take a
look : commanded Artem.
Thalia walked over to the bag and looked inside. The small woman held it open invitingly. “Don’t worry,” she said. “They don’t bite.”
Bite? Whatever is in there?
What she saw was a little hairy creature with huge eyes and an inordinate number of legs. It blinked at her
: Well, I wasn’t expecting that! : she telepathed as she took a surprised step backwards.
“What are they?’ she asked the woman. “Where do they come from? Did you steal them? Is that why you’re running away from your friends?”
The large burly man who was standing behind the tall one laughed.
“Friends!” he said disparagingly. “They are not our friends.”
“George, shut up,” said the tall man. “We’re not stealing them woman. We’re protecting them.”
“From what?” asked Thalia.
“Perhaps this is not the best place to discuss the situation,” the tall man answered. “We should find somewhere safer.”
Artem had been listening to the conversation with a great deal of interest. He had also been fascinated with the image of the leggy creatures that had permeated through to him.
: He’s right. It’s not safe here. Thalia, ask Josei to come out and then you lead them up the path. My away team passed through this area on our way to find the strangers. There’s another cave if you head due north :
The five nervous prisoners paled as Josei emerged from the foliage.
“He’s yours?” asked the small woman in amazement as she caught her first glimpse of a Lind.
“Not hers. We belong to each other,” Josei replied.
“He talks?” she exclaimed.
“Of course I talk,’ Josei responded with a warning growl. “I think. I am intelligent. I have vocal cords, so I communicate. Now ladies and gentlemen, if you would follow me and my vadeln?”
: Ladies and gentlemen? : queried Thalia as she prepared to mount, encumbered by one of the long black weapons the strangers had been carrying. It was heavier than it looked.
: That book you were reading last year. The words sounded very fine so I remembered them. A word of warning, don’t let them know we can speak to each other telepathically :
: Why not? :
: Just a feeling I’ve got and I don’t think exposing our advantage of instantaneous communication is a good idea until we know we can trust them :
: I get your point. Pass it on :
“Follow me,” ordered Thalia once she had settled herself in the saddle and buckled in. “No sudden moves or the others will fire.”
At the word ‘others’, Thalia noticed the strangers tensing.
: They’re wondering just how many of us there are : laughed Josei, swishing his tail and emitting a low growl for appearance sake.
The un-merry little cavalcade began moving slowly in the direction of Artem’s cave.
Thalia and Josei had only a vague idea where it was but Josei could see Jim and Avdrya flitting through the foliage ahead of them making a trail he could follow.
Thalia was aware of the vadeln-pairs on either side and the reluctant footsteps and occasional curse as one of their prisoners tripped. It was the one called George who was uttering most of the curses.
Once they reached the cave Jim and Avdrya were waiting outside and Jim ordered the prisoners to stand as still as statues and not to move a single muscle. He did say they could put down their bags though which they did with a great deal of care. With Thalia covering them, he searched them thoroughly.
“No weapons,” he said, stepping back. “Avdrya, go call the others in now.”
She padded away from them a little and called. Thalia bit back a grin. The call was for show. Avdrya had already called them in telepathically.
One by one the mounted vadelns (and Max) sauntered past them and into the cave. It wasn’t as large as the one they had left behind but it was big enough, if a bit cramped.
The five watched wide-eyed.
Only then did Jim order the five to pick up their quilted packs and to enter.
Once inside he pointed to an area to the back. “Sit down,” he ordered and the prisoners did, so fast that Josei heard five individual thumps as their bottoms hit the dirt.
: Keep them guessing. It’ll make them nervous : Artem instructed through Larya : Ignore them. Just go about your normal tasks as if they are not there. Jim and Thalia stay guarding them. Jon and Jack will relieve you as soon as they can. Zen and Vya, on entrance guard please :
As they obeyed Artem’s commands, dismounting then divesting their four-pawed partners of packs and harnesses, the five watched, their apprehension growing with every tvan.
The tall man opened his mouth.
“No talking,” ordered Jim, pointing his firearm at his head.
The tall man’s mouth closed with a snap.
The twins relieved Thalia and Jim.
Rodick and Christel began to prepare a meal and only then did Artem beckon Jim and Thalia to accompany him to where the five sat waiting. Jon and Jack stepped back a little but kept their firearms pointing directly at the prisoners.
* * * * *
“So, from what or who are you protecting these creatures?” asked Artem once he, Thalia and Jim had settled down.
“Let them introduce themselves first,” said Thalia. “It will be easier with names.”
“My name is Tancred,” the tall man informed them. “I’m, or at least I was, in command of our undertaking.”
“Undertaking?” queried Artem.
“On the planet. There were twenty of us originally but …”
“The others are dead, killed,” the small, blonde woman answered in a voice that throbbed with repressed anger. “I’m Astrid by the way, zoologist.”
“And the other three?”
“The giant of a man over there is George. He’s security,” Tancred continued, shrugging his shoulders as if to say he might as well tell them. “By that I mean he protects us from our adversaries. Marcel here is our engineer. He keeps the equipment working - not that we have any equipment any more. We couldn’t salvage anything from the wreckage after the ASPC had gone. The entire site was burnt to a cinder. We five were lucky not to be there at the time.”
Artem nodded. “We understand,” he explained at Tancred’s look of inquiry. “Similar thing happened to some of us. The other woman?”
“Paula, botanist. And before you ask the reason why we weren’t inside the enclosure when the Community hit us is because we had taken the Orumcek out into the trees to help them get acclimatised.”
The dark haired woman nodded a greeting.
“Pleased to meet you.”
“You are?” queried Tancred, greatly daring.
“My name is Artem. I am in command here. The lady sitting here by my side is called Thalia and is my second.”
“I don’t mean to be rude Thalia but your skin is of a strange hue - sort of mauve and your fingernails are purple,” noted Paula as she watched Thalia remove her gloves. The cave was getting warm with so many bodies inside.
Thalia grinned.
“I was about to say the same thing about the fact that yours aren’t!”
Both young women laughed and the tension permeating the group began to dissipate a little.
“We should all put our cards on the table,” said Tancred.
The term was new to Artem but he got the gist of what Tancred was offering.
“I think so too. You first. From what, or who are you protecting these creatures? Where are they by the way?”
“Sleeping in that corner,” answered Astrid, pointing. “They’re not nocturnal.”
“Who or what?” prompted Artem.
“I’ll explain the who in a minute but first let me explain the why. You’ll know what Orumcek silk is?” asked Tancred.
Thalia shook her head. She was staring, fascinated, at the tips of the legs poking out from one of the quilted bags. The creature was beginning to wriggle
out. It was obviously nervous about actually coming out completely.
And no wonder, thought Thalia.
“Spiders,” he prompted. “Similar to those that lived on Old Earth.”
Again Thalia shook her head.
“I don’t know much about Old Earth, if we’re talking about the same planet,” she admitted. “None of us do. It’s been so long you see? Over eight hundred years since our ancestors left. It wasn’t called Old Earth, just Earth.” She could see that Tancred thought this a very lame excuse.
“So much happened when we arrived on Rybak,” she tried to explain. “A lot was forgotten in the early years during our ancestors’ initial struggles to survive.”
“Let us pretend that we don’t know anything at all and proceed from there,” suggested Artem.
“Well,” began Tancred, “about three centuries ago, you know what a century is?”
This time Thalia did nod. What sort of fool didn’t know that a hundred years made up a century?
“Three centuries ago our exploratory ships found a planet they named Orlando. It was eminently suitable for colonisation. This was unfortunate for the inhabitants.”
“Why?’ asked Artem. He and his came from a multi-creature society. Back on Rybak four species had co-inhabited their planet and Tak was no different.
The creatures, these creatures you see here, are indigenous to Orlando, except they call it Orum.”
“They call themselves the Orumcek,” the blonde Astrid added. “They are intelligent, peaceful creatures. They wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“They didn’t stand a chance,” said Tancred with obvious bitterness. “You see; they had something the Community could use to their profit.”
“The Community?” asked Artem. “What’s that?”
Tancred sighed. “You don’t know about the Community. The Community would have come to power after your ancestor’s time. The Community runs things. It’s a vast inter-planetary profit-making organisation with few scruples and a desire for one thing, wealth. It is exploitive and …”
“Evil,” Paula interrupted.
“The Orumcek can produce wealth?” queried Thalia, staring at the creature who had at last emerged from its refuge and was settling down beside Astrid in an effort to get warm. It didn’t seem possible.
“They are a type of alien spider,” Tancred explained patiently. “They produce silk.”